V: I had a discussion with one of the traders last week about how he wanted to make sure his kids grew to respect hard work and the value of a dollar.
I think it's very easy to ignore one's own privileges. He talked about how he had to work from being a poor boy to where he was and so on and so forth, and he had a lot of pride in having accomplished what he has. But this does not seem quite correct. Because if he were urban minority poor, I think he could have worked just as hard but still ended up nowhere.
Similarly, I should thank my background for the advantages it has given me. If I were white, I'd probably belong to some unimpressive but competent professional class. A good amount of my analytical skills are a direct result of my background, I think.
me: Yes, the consequence of being an outsider
V: Actually, that is it exactly. If I were not an outsider, I wouldn't have such a strong desire to rebel intellectually, and I would be much less curious and much less analytical.
...
V: Being an outsider means that even if it's easy to make friends, it's still very easy to remain dis-integrated.
me: I'm not so certain I want to become fully integrated
V: Why not? It's lonely otherwise.
me: You can be integrated and lonely
V: Really?
me: Is that not a possibility?
